“FUMING Joe Cullen aimed a death stare at darts rival Mensur Suljovic as he was eliminated from the World Darts Championship. Cullen, 36, took the opening set before Suljovic mounted an incredible comeback to win 3-1 after masterful deployment of mind games. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Joe Cullen aimed a death”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
Cullen, 36, took the opening set before Suljovic mounted an incredible comeback to win 3-1 after masterful deployment of mind games.
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Joe Cullen aimed a death stare at Mensur Suljovic after his World Darts Championship KOCredit: Taylor Lanning
Suljovic was ecstatic after beating Cullen and celebrated wildly on stageCredit: Getty
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Suljovic, 53, won the match despite hitting just 24 per cent on doubles and an average of 81.95.
However, by taking his time between his throws he disrupted the rhythm of Cullen.
And by the end of the 44 minute second round game, the Serbian had thrown his way to victory.
Cullen, whose walk-on song is “Don’t look back in anger”, was visibly furious at his rivals use of the dark arts following the match and aimed a death stare towards Suljovic as he celebrated wildly on stage.
Fans on social media believed Rockstar was “ready to explode” and were desperate to hear his thoughts.
And the World No32 accused Suljovic of “cheating” in a scathing statement on social media.
Cullen said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “If that’s darts, I don’t want no part of it!
“Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see!
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“I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it’s part of the game but word it how you will – it’s CHEATING!
“That’s not darts.”
Meanwhile, Suljovic denied slowing the game down, saying: “I don’t know, what’s his problem?
“I give him missed doubles, everything. I like Joe Cullen, a very nice guy.
“I never ever play slow. I do it only for my game. I’m never doing this for him. Sorry Joe, never do this. I love him man.”
Fans branded Cullen as a “sore loser” online, while others echoed the criticism aimed at Suljovic’s tactics or lauded him as a master of “rattling” his opponents.
Sky Sports commentator Dan Dawson also weighed into the debate, adding: “Cullen wasn’t playing particularly well and he allowed Mensur to get away with some pretty average stuff.
“You can see by the end the frustration was showing. There’s more than one way to win a game of darts.
“But I thought Joe Cullen was doing so well to keep his cool. But he couldn’t stop Mensur at the end.”
Suljovic could face Luke Littler in round three after Christmas if the Nuke beats David Davies.
Cullen’s embrace with Suljovic on stage was filled with tensionCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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